A recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle, equipment, such as an airbag, car seat or tire creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards. Manufacturers are required to fix the problem by repairing it, replacing it, offering a refund, or, in rare cases, repurchasing the vehicle. If you have registered your vehicle, your manufacturer will notify you if there is a safety recall by sending you a letter in the mail. Please do your part and make sure your vehicle registration is up-to-date, including your current mailing address.

You can also sign up to receive from NHTSA e-mail recall notifications affecting your vehicle’s make and model; download the Safercar mobile app for iPhones or Androids to have recall alerts sent to your phone; or subscribe to RSS feeds about safety-related recalls for child restraints, vehicles and tires. Please visit NHTSA’s website, www.safercar.gov, for more information.

Sometimes a motor vehicle or piece of vehicle safety equipment, such as a car seat or booster seat, does not comply with required safety standards—or there is a safety-related defect. When this happens, a recall may occur so the manufacturer can fix the problem. However, the consumer must register the product in order to receive a recall notice. Registering your seat makes sense: It gives the manufacturer the ability to contact you about recalls and safety notices. It is also easy: Just send in the card that came with your car seat or fill out a simple form on the manufacturer’s website. To register a car or booster seat, please visit www.safercar.gov and click on the link for car seats.